Do the Bangles Jangle The Bangles brought Paisley Underground roots to ’80s pop. Trace their evolution through All Over the Place, Different Light and Everything: and how their jangle endured.
Thomas Dolby Didn’t Just Do Science See how Thomas Dolby’s first four albums go beyond quirky '80s synthpop science. His essential songs blend satire, sorrow, and sci-fi noir to reveal the depth behind his pioneering sound.
Friend & Foe: Adam Ant's Media War Enhanced for members Explore how new wave artist Adam Ant’s early career became a battlefield with the British press in the '80s. With essential songs like Goody Two Shoes and Friend or Foe, Ant's music turned media conflict into art.
Gary Numan: Synthpop OG Gary Numan stumbled upon a synth and transformed his music. Trace his journey from Tubeway Army through Replicas, The Pleasure Principle and Telekon—and the influence he left behind.
New Wave's Specials Sauce Explore the Specials' groundbreaking blend of Jamaican ska, punk, and new wave through their biggest songs, from "Gangsters" to "Ghost Town." Learn how two influential albums launched Britain's 2 Tone movement and inspired later ska revivalists on both sides of the Atlantic.
Big On Japan: New Romantic's Missing Link How did the band Japan become new romantic's missing link? Explore essential 70s & 80s songs that bridged Roxy Music's elegance and the stylish sound of early Duran Duran.
2 Big Things Are Better Than 1: Duran Duran Discover a track-by-track album analysis of Duran Duran's new wave album Big Thing. It brings up musical influences, themes, and the band's bold 1988 evolution.
Madness: The Nutty Ones & The Smooth Ones Ska revivalists Madness are known for their wild, “nutty” energy, but that’s only half the story. This explores six essential songs from their classic late 70s and early 80s era, from the chaos of One Step Beyond and Baggy Trousers to the restraint of Embarrassment.
Duran Duran Notorious Analysis Sleek, funky, and quietly defiant, 1986's "Notorious" reinvented Duran Duran. This track-by-track deep dive explores the band’s stripped-down lineup, Nile Rodgers’ influence, and the sharper, more mature new wave sound that still feels overlooked today.
The Police: Optimists in the Machine '80s new wave hitmakers the Police often tackled dark themes, but rarely let them overwhelm. Through humor and subtle reframing, they reshaped tension into something manageable. Essential songs to listen to.
Arcadia, Wild Boys & View to a Kill Analysis A track-by-track deep dive into 1985's "So Red the Rose" by Arcadia: the Duran Duran side project that traded pop immediacy for atmosphere, and bold experimentation. Explore how LeBon, Rhodes & Roger Taylor made their sound darker & more cinematic - and why this new wave album still fascinates.
Elvis. Costello, that is. Elvis Costello’s '70s songs rarely mean what they seem. A look at the anger, ’50s influences, and clever misdirection behind his first three, essential new wave albums.
Blondie: Parallel Styles In the '70s and '80s new wavers Blondie moved effortlessly between punk, girl-group pop, disco, and global sounds. See how with essential songs, while keeping a distinct core identity.
A Tale of Two Ultravoxes Synthpop band Ultravox didn’t just change singers, but also its blueprint. Explore how John Foxx’s '70s detached, dystopian minimalism contrasts with Midge Ure’s '80s emotional, cathedral-sized anthems across tone and scale. Essential songs for each singer
The Omega A-Ha Moment Was A-Ha the late '80s bookend of new wave? A look at the essential albums Hunting High and Low, Scoundrel Days, and Stay on These Roads - restraint, tension, and cinematic scale.
Duran Duran Seven and the Ragged Tiger Analysis A track-by-track deep dive into 1983's "Seven and the Ragged Tiger": explore how Duran Duran’s third album balanced new wave ambition with world-spanning sessions, chart-topping hits, and internal tensions.
B-52s: Do Call It a Comeback Explore new wavers B-52s’ remarkable comeback: how tragedy and creative risk-taking reinvented sound turned the Athens new wave oddballs into late-’80s hitmakers with Cosmic Thing and other essential songs.
Duran Duran Rio Album Analysis A track-by-track deep dive into "Rio": explore how Duran Duran’s 1982 album avoided the sophomore slump, sparked MTV fame, and blended new romantic energy with artful songwriting and iconic videos.
Depeche Mode: Broken Synths to Black Cathedrals Explore Depeche Mode’s transformation through their essential songs: from '80s raw synth beginnings to global synthpop icons in the '90s, weaving darkness, devotion, and sonic reinvention.
Missing Persons' Neon Zappa Origins Explore, with essential songs, how Missing Persons fused Frank Zappa-trained virtuosity with Los Angeles' neon new wave in the '80s, influencing MTV sound and even future acts like Duran Duran.
Tears for Fears’ Arc: Hurt to Healing Explore Tears for Fears’ emotional arc in the '80s and '90s: from the primal trauma of The Hurting through cathartic new wave anthems and healing reflections across their classic albums.
The Cars’ Road from Jangle to Gloss Take a five-album tour through the Cars’ evolution: from '70s jangly power-pop roots to '80s glossy synth-fused new wave hits like You Might Think.
Duran Duran Debut Album Analysis A track-by-track deep dive into Duran Duran’s self-titled 1981 debut: how their blend of synth, dance rhythms, and new wave style on tracks like Sound of Thunder and Girls on Film helped define their early sound.
I Smell a Boomtown Rat Explore how Ireland's Boomtown Rats used new wave energy and social commentary in the '70s and '80s. Essential songs like I Don’t Like Mondays blend catchy hooks with dark, provocative themes.
Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Wanna Bend Time Explore Cyndi Lauper’s new wave impact, from her Queens roots to Girls Just Want to Have Fun and three essential ’80s albums that defined her rise.
The Howard Jones Sutras (Synthpop Meets Zen) Discover four essential “sutras” in Howard Jones’s music that blend '80s synthpop warmth with mindfulness and optimism, showing how his songs offer emotional insight and Zen.
Squeeze: New Wave’s Literate Hitmakers With their classic albums, explore how Squeeze’s Difford and Tilbrook turned sharp, witty narratives and melodic hooks into some of new wave’s most literate and enduring songs in the '70s and early '80s.
More Talking, More Head Explore the influence of new wave's Talking Heads in the '70s and '80s - from quirky art-rock beginnings to iconic songs like Psycho Killer and Once in a Lifetime.
Falco: Vienna in a Tux Discover Austrian new wave pioneer Falco: with essential songs like Der Kommissar and Rock Me Amadeus, his quirky rap-infected stylings and place in ’80s music history.
